Victoria's Secret Disclosed!

SHHHHHH, don't tell anybody, but, I know the secret.

It all started with a simple shopping spree. I had decided to surprise my wife with a new purchase of special clothing essentials from every man's dreamiest of feminine wardrobe stores.

Yes, it was Victoria's Secret.

After spending a few hours there, I mean, a few minutes, something became very apparent to me. It was very obvious to anyone with a trained eye and the gift of observance. It became very apparent that I was the only man in a store mainly comprised of women who was shopping alone.

At that moment, I could sense it. Obviously, I was Ted Bundy, Osama Bin Ladin and Sadam Hussein, all rolled into one.

Now, I'm being humorous, but every man who has embarked upon a shopping mission such as this can empathize with me.

Should I get cotton? Should I get satin? Should I get silk? What about lace? Of course, you have to touch the cloth and check the size to find just the right purchase, which causes even more feelings of suspicion as you lift each garment from the table it is displayed on. "I sure hope they don't think I'm some kind of pervert", I remember thinking.

After several, seemingly unapproachable moments, a young lady decided she would close the chasm that existed between us and, sheepishly I might add, ask if I needed some help. In this store where every piece of clothing is practically of an intimate nature, she assisted me in finding the sizes I needed.

Through all my humorous discomfort something began to dawn on me. While I didn't go in on a mission of finding out what Victoria's Secret "secret" is, I think this experience may have disclosed it.

Stay with me a few minutes and I will share with you what I think.

It is something that seems to have been misplaced in our desensitized sexually liberated culture.

THE SECRET

Let's say that someone walks up to you and hands you the keys to two different cars. One of those cars is an old Subaru Justy and the other a brand new Ferrari. Do you think you might handle the Ferrari a little different than you would the Justy?

Of course you would, we all would.

We would probably wash the Ferrari a lot more. We would probably make sure the Ferrari was garage kept. While we may let just anybody drive the Justy, the Ferrari would be virtually unattainable for anyone to drive.

What's the difference?

VALUE!

We always treat differently what we value.

That, I believe is Victoria's Secret, secret. For years this franchise has made a living by placing high value on the female anatomy. You can't experience a shopping escapade like the one mentioned above, see all the colors and the different fabrics designed to help a woman feel special, without seeing it.

THE APPLICATION

I wonder, have we cheapened the human sexual experience and personally lost the proper placement of value our creator has given our bodies?

When we show little concern about how we place our bodies on display. When we could care less about leaving anything to the imagination. When our mentors are the people showing the most skin.

Have we lost the issue of VALUE?

When program after program on TV reports teenagers engaging in sexual conduct with multiple partners on the back of a school bus. When high-school age kids are admitting to sexual encounters in the double digits before they graduate. When human sexuality is considered little different than an amusement park scream machine that anyone and everyone can ride if they wish.

Have we lost the issue of VALUE?

Remember, we always treat differently what we value.

Are we failing to value sexual intimacy and the bonding it brings to relationships? Are we failing to value the sacredness and oneness such an act produces? Are we failing to realize the lofty value our creator has given our bodies to be able to anatomically take part in the creation process?

The next time somebody who belongs in a kennel (Snoop Dog) or someone who belongs in a bag (Eminem), through music or actions tries to impress upon you that "Girl's Gone Wild" actions are where body dignity is found, remember "Victoria's Secret". Your body has value, period.

The value you place on your body will be reflected in how you use it.

Copyright 2004 by Stanley J. Leffew ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

What You Should Know About Auto Insurance and Leasing

Leasing a car is not only an attractive financial offer to the majority of auto-consumers, but also a lifestyle and favorite choice.

Leasing a car has four main benefits.

1. Keeping up with the latest trends. Lots of people want to drive the latest models every two to three years.

2. Leasing offers buying flexibility. It allows you to postpone the buying decision while using the car. At the end of your lease, you can buy the car or simply walk away.

3. Leasing reduces your preliminary cash expense because you do not have to pay the large down payment required for car ownership.

4. Just about every aspect of leasing is negotiable. If you know all the fees involved, you can lower your monthly payments.

When leasing a car, it is easier to choose the same company for your auto insurance. However, you may end up paying too much for your coverage and it is better to look elsewhere for lower rates.

When you lease, the car that you will drive belongs to the leasing company. They want to be sure that their investment is covered in the event the car gets damaged, totaled or stolen.

They usually want to get covered for the difference between what your auto-insurer pays and your unpaid leasing obligations at the time of the accident or damage. This is called GAP, short for Guaranteed Auto Protection, and is typically included in the leasing contract.

If your leasing company is a finance division of an automaker, then your GAP insurance will be offered by the same lease company.

You are under no obligation to accept GAP insurance included as part of your lease agreement. Why pay an insurance premium if you can find the same coverage for a lower price?

Spend some time shopping by comparing quotes from different insurance companies. Demand discounts that you already qualify for and modify your coverage in view of that.

Long Term Care Insurance (LTCi): Face to Face for the Best Policy

Many ask, but few are serious
"Oh, well, I really didn't want an agent to come out here," says the voice on the phone. "I thought you would just send me some stuff in the mail."

That is a typical response from people who have sent LTCi response cards to our company. However, there is a real, common sense reason for sitting down with an agent to talk about LTCi especially if you can find one who is actually a CLTC (Certified Long Term Care). All insurance is complexLTCi is especially so.

Worried about scams? Face to face is best
While a person can hand you a scam anywhere, you are much safer when you see him face to face, get his name, license number and the name of a company you can call if you have questions about the legitimacy of the agent. Usually, however, it's simply much easier to say "no" over the phone, or just avoid sending the application in when you have done it through the mail. The truth is those who want quotes over the phone or who want to "get information through the mail" are more often just looking for some sort of excuse not to purchase LTCi.

What an agent will do
Designing a policy that fits your needs is a multi-step process that involves educating you along with determining your needs. A good agent understands the process of providing the coverage you need and will not enter your home and immediately begin filling out an application. Instead, he/she will engage in conversationoften about your family, your previous work history, general information about your finances, and discussion about your health and major medical insurance coverage.

Most agents are trained to share information very informally, so you don't even realize you are telling them things they need to know in order to decide if LTCi is right for you. If it seems like the agent is "prying," remember, he is required ask for personal information. Surely you would rather give such information to a person you can see and even call later if you have questions.

Needs analysis: finding out if you qualify
Two of the most critical areas of discussion will be about your health and your finances. The agent will be looking for medicare and medicare supplement insurance if you are over 65, or for major medicaleither private or from your employerif you are still working or were able to keep your employer's health insurance when you retired. The one thing the agent does NOT want to hear is that you are on Medicaid, the government program for those with a severely low income. If you are on Medicaid, you are not eligible for any type of LTCi because it is considered double coverage. Medicaid will pay your nursing home bill should you ever need extended care.

Since LTCi is medically underwritten, the agent will ask you about your health. It is the agent's responsibility to help you avoid any unnecessary inconvenience or doctor's reports that would just result in a rejection. If you already have crippling diseases, major illnesses or extreme obesity, you will not qualify. The same goes for cognitive impairment such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Finding out if you need it
Once establishing that you may qualify based on your health (remember, the company will still see a doctor's report in most cases), the agent will ask you about your home and family. Do you have children who would be able and willing to participate in at least part of your care, assuming they outlive you? If you have a lot of stairs in your home, have you made plans to move in with someone or to go to an assisted living facility? Is your spouse already deceased, leaving you to fend for yourself if you need physical help? Are you a disabled veteran who would be on a priority list for a VA nursing home if you should need it. Knowing your precise situation will help the agent to design a plan for you.

In addition to understanding your family situation, the agent will ask you about your assets. One of my recent contacts is a millionaire thanks to a workman's comp settlement. He worked on scaffolding many stories above a concrete parking area. One of the scaffold boards broke just as he was crossing it with a heavy load. He plunged to the street ,breaking nearly every bone in his body except, incredibly, his back. An enormous settlement pays him for the rest of his life and includes care in a nursing home when he can no longer get around his home with his wheelchair, walker, and other equipment. The man has enough money to buy the nursing home. He does not need LTCi insurance.

While some people are wealthy enough that they don't need LTCi, others, while not necessarily poor, actually have very little to protect. If you live in a mobile home on a rented lot, have no savings or investments, and are living on little more than your social security check, you will probably qualify for Medicaid if you ever do need nursing home care. However, even if your assets do not warrant LTCi, your personal preferences might. You may simply want the option of home care or assisted living. Or you may want to protect your dignity and spare your family the hardship of taking care of you. You will not have such choices if you are dependent on Medicaid.

Completing the App and telling you what to expect
Once your agent has determined that you are medically qualified and that you have a need for LTCi, he/she will fill out the application for you. He will design a basic benefit that you are comfortable with and will discuss available riders. Don't hesitate to ask questions, including whether the agent will be available to help you with the policy in the futureor if you will be at the mercy of the 800 number series once the company has your money.

Once the agent has completed the application, you will need to write a check for the first month's premium. This check will start the application process, pay for doctor's reports, and issue the policy if you are accepted. NO agent can guarantee that you will be accepted as the underwriters do not share the doctor's reports. However, if you are rejected, the check you write will be sent back to you in full.

Some companies require a face to face assessment. If so, the agent will tell you, and might even make the appointment from your home. You can decide what time of day you want the assessment and you have the right to know what the assessing agency will do. Generally, the purpose of such a visit is to make sure you do not already have some crippling condition or cognitive impairment.

Once you are accepted
The best companies will not send your policy to you in the mail. Instead, the agent will visit you again and will go over your policy, showing you what to do in the event that you should need to start using it. This visit is the perfect time to ask any questions that might have occurred to you once the agent left your home. The only other thing you need to do is share your decision with your family. You will find that it is the most thoughtful gift you could ever give them.